Children's Rights Bill [HL]

Long title

To give further effect to rights and freedoms guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and for connected purposes.

Summary

<p>The purpose of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Bill is to enshrine the <a>United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child</a> (UNCRC) in UK law. The UNCRC is an international human rights treaty that grants all children and young people a comprehensive set of rights. </p><p>Issues included in the convention&rsquo;s articles are: the right to be free from all forms of violence; the right to play, rest and leisure; and the right to be protected from harmful work and economic exploitation. </p><p>The UK signed the convention on 19 April 1990, and it came into force on 15 January 1992.<br><br>Some articles of the convention are already given effect through existing legislation, for example though the Children Act 2004, and through a range of legislation on the right to education. This Bill would make the UNCRC part of UK law.<br><br><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>The Bill would create a duty to ensure all new legislation is compatible with the convention and is &ldquo;children&rsquo;s rights proofed&rdquo;.</li></ul><ul><li>The interpretation of convention rights would be determined by a court or tribunal.</li></ul><ul><li>The optional protocols on the <a>sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography</a> , and on the <a>involvement of children in armed conflict</a> would also be incorporated into UK law.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

1. 1st reading· Lords

   19 November 2009 – 19 November 2009

2. 2nd reading· Lords